Pressure reducing diaphragm structure



Oct. 30, 1951 A. 1 FLAMM 2,573,424

' PRESSURE REDUCING DIAPHRAGM STRUCTURE Filed Dee. 7, 1948 Patented Oct. 30, 1951 PRESSURE REDUCING DIAPHRAGM STRUCTURE Alexander L. Flamin, Bridgeport, Conn., assigner v'to Bonson-Art Metal Works, Inc., Newark, N. J.,

a corporation of New Jersey Application December 7, 1948, Serial No. 63,957

The invention relates to containers for` gas under pressure andv from which the gas is to be dispensed or delivered at reduced pressure by passage through a constricted orifice. In cigar lighters fueled by gases such as butane or pro-I pane for example, it is possible to charge the fuel in liquid form into a container which is thereupon sealed, whereupon the liquid changes in phase to the gaseous form and provides a relatively large supply of gaseous fuel under pressure substantially higher than is desired to be used at the burner of the lighter. rThe present invention aims primarily to provide a pressure reducing diaphragm structure appropriate forV use in connection with containers of the above character, and which has special advantages in respect to simplicity of construction land the facility with which the diaphragm member may be anchored in `operative position immediately after the fuel charging operation to minimize the loss of fuel through the charging opening, and 'removed from such position preparatory to recharging with fuel as hereinafter described in greater detail. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part specifically referred to in the description hereinafter contained which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred form of diaphragm structure constructed to operate in accordance with the invention; the disclosure however should be considered as merely illustrative of the invention in its broader aspects. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section taken through a fuel container having a pressure reducing diaphragm structure constructed to operate in accordance with the invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged detail sections showing the diaphragm member respectively before and after the operation of anchoring it in place in the container. n y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section including a type of tool or fixture which may be used to assist in the fuel charging operation and in -anchoring the diaphragm member in operative position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section including a type'of tool which may be used in removing the diaphragm member from operating position.

The invention is disclosed as applied to a container I which may be assumed to be of form appropriate for use as the fuel receptacle ofa cigar lighter, and whichcontains a filling 2 of absorbent material such as cotton. The con-v tainerl l is shown as provided with an internal` 's claims. (c1. 62-1) boss 3 which has a passageway 4 extending there@ through. When the container l is to be charged with fuel, the parts which appear inthe Fig. 1 above the passageway 4 willbe removed, and. fuel such as butane or propane in liquid form.. will be introduced into the container through passageway 4, afterrwhich the above mentioned.- parts will be assembled to seal. the container, whereupon the fuel will convert into gaseousi form to afford asupplypof gaseous fuel under, substantial pressureVwhich may easily be suf-v ficient to afford several years of normal use of ,A the. lighter before re-charging with fuel is.

necessary.

To minimize initial loss of fuel through pasa. sageway 4, and also reduce the gaseous pres,- sureat which the fuelis supplied to the burner of the lighter, a pressure reducing diaphragm: member as hereinafter `more fully described, is; interposed between ,passageway 4 and the parts which appear above this passagewayv in Fig. .1 and is inserted into operative, position immedif'A ately after the fuel has been charged in. This pressure reducing diaphragm member as shown. more in detail in Fig.,2, comprises a thin :deformable disk of resilient metal having asmall pressure reducing aperture 5 extending throughv the central portion 6 of the diaphragm, thekv peripheral or rim portion 1 of the diaphragm.l being received. in an annular seatV inv boss k 31 said seat having a bottom wall 8 against whichW the rim portion 1 ofthe diaphragmrests, and, an annular wall 9 whichencloses the diaphragnfi.l

As indicated in Fig. 2 the natural or initial;A shape of the diaphragm member 4is somewhat concavo-convex, such that the central portion 6 of the diaphragm is displaced to one side with respect to the general plane of the rim portion f of the diaphragm, although it is not necessary that the rim portion shall partake of this` curva-1, ture. VUnder the above conditions, that is when the diaphragm is initially placed in its seat,v its over-all diameter as shown in Fig. 2, is such,-

that it fits fairly snugly into the seat, the parts which appear above the diaphragm in Fig..1

being detached at -this stage. Then the central,

of the diaphragm, thus expanding the.rim.por, tion of the diaphragm radially outward until;

it locksrmly against the enclosing wall.y 9 and,`

seals the joints between thetwo members. Pref-`V erably the diaphragm is provided withra sharp-,1.` ened peripheral edge l0 asindicatedin Figa-.2,35

ately after the fuel charging operation is completed. In the form shownthis tool` is; provided with a. threaded tube II which is'screwedl intel the boss 3, and provided with a conduit i12 through which the liquid fuelis conducted, screw I3 is threadedly received within the collar II, and at its lower end this screw is provided with a. pilot pin I4 which fits frictionally within the; aperture. of a pressure reducing. diaphragm.. suchfasis above described, the. diaphragm being then. in the shape. shownin Fig. 2. During the fuel; charging operation this screw I3, and the pressure reducingdiaphragm.l carried thereby, will remain in` the upper position shown in Fig. 4',.but-immediately after the fuel charging operationv is completed, the. screw: I3.i will. be. turned to` move downwardly until.l the rim portion. 'I of the: diaphragm seats against. the wall 8 of boss 3. The. lower. face. ofthe` screw I3. is shown as provided. with an annularV sharp ridgef I5y which engages the rim portion 'I of the. pressure reducing diaphragm, and the portion I6 of the'bottom face; ofi the screw whiciris enclosed. by this, ridge 1 Id is in the form of a cone with its conical side Wallmaking an angle ot' about 5 with the horizontal; Thus asthe diaphragm is forced against the-Wall 8r by screw I3A the. diaphragm assumes theY shape shown inPFig; 3, afterfwhch the above described tool` will be removed, leaving the diaphragm firmly,r seated and sealed ini positionso thatA fuelY can escape: from the container only through the` aperture. 51 oiy thel diaphragm which is exceedingly small;` in size.

rIYhen after the tool-shown in Fig. 4. has been removed, an appropriate valve mechanism. is. insented. to shut off the flow of fuel through the oriiiceK 5 except when desired; Fig. i shows. merely by way of example,.a valve mechanism which may beso used: In prefer to place. immediately. abovethe diaphragrma disk I 'I of softmetalsuch. asl lead, which has in its central. portion but somewhat out of linewith the aperture 5a prebored pin-hole I8 extending'. therethrough to further. reduce thepressurefof the gaseous fuel after passing through aperturef. 'IhenA the cylindrical shell I9 of. the. valveamechanism is screwed into theboss 3 until a threadedf plug 20 at the lower end'ofY shell Ida seats againstthedisk I'I. The plug-'201s shown as having annular ridges 2i onV its lower end. face which bite into the. soft,` disk. I'IV to aid informing a pressure-tightV JOnt, andl also the plug 2B is shown as having a central pressurer reducingv orifice 2'2':v therein, through which. the gaseous fuely passes. A valve cage '2,3 prnvided with an annular seat 24;, is received within shell I9, and a valve member 25,.; is urged by. spring 261 into; engagement with Seat 2 4 t0 shutoff theV flow of: gaseous L fuelfrom container Ir'. A further restricted orifice; f'If may; be pro-*- vided, through which the gaseous fuel flpws-y inl enteringthe valve cage 23, after passing through the'- orices 5, I8. and 22: previously described;V When. the valve member 25 is closed. as above.

described, a plunger 28 having a central stud 29 which rests against the valve member 25, is held in the relatively elevated position shown in Fig. 1, but when plunger 28 is depressed (by any suitable means not shown or described in detail) valve member 25 is pushed downwardly and unseated; whereuponl gaseous-fuel' may ow out: througiithe passageway 30 inplunger 2'9, the pressure at which the gas is thus delivered being reduced by passage through the restricted oriices above described. The plunger 28 may serve as the" burner ofthelighter, the gaseous fuel as it issues from passageway 3D being ignited by any appropriate means. not specically described or shown, whereupon; the flame will continue as long as plunger '28* is held depressed and will be estinglihd When this plunger is' released.

When it is necessary to recharge the container with fuel; the valve mechanism will be removed, and the pressure reducing diaphragm is then deformed to release it. from locking engagement withY its seat. In: Fig'. 5V I have shown. a typeA of tool 3.Iv in the. nature of a corkscrew which. may befengagedwith; thewall of oriiice 5` and drawn upwardlyas indicated in. Fig. 5 until the diarl phragmmemberreassumes its initial shapeJ thus contractingV its diameter and freeing it fromits seat. The diaphragmA member will then bek removed, whereupon. liquid fuelj may b e chargedinvthroughpassageway 4,. and;v a new diaphragm member. inserted andthe valve mechanism re placed, i asabove described;

While the invention. has4 been disclosed as ear` ried out byv a diaphragm member oi" the above. described: specific:- ccnstruction, it; Should be; un?

p derstood that changes-may be madetherein-withf out departing.: from. the invention inv its broader aspects, withintheseopev of the appendedV claims;l

I claim:

1. In combination, a container for eas. under pressure having a gas conducting; passageway'- therein and a seat surrounding said passagewaua, thin resilient metal. diaphragm member mounted; in said seatl having initscentral. pcrtionA a pres-- sure reducing aperture.' therethroughy communif` eating with saidi passageway, said: diaphragmf having a naturalsomewhaticoncavoeconvex cur-fvature wherein its central portion` surrounding; said aperture is displaced to'K one side with re spect to the generali plane of the-rim of: the dak phragm andv fitting within said seat when insuclm natural shape, but the central; portion` of said diaphragm being deformed'- toreverse its aforesaid natural curvature andexpandV thev rimof the diaphragm int'ogl'ocl-ing-` engagement in said.

seat, said diaphragm'- being' defbrmablel back toits natural curvature'tQ-releasesaid engagement, andmeans engaging aV faceY of' said' diaphragm to preventA reversal from its seconde mentioned@ curvature toits iirst mentioned curvature.

2. In combination, a container-'for gas under pressure havinga gas conducting passageway therein and a seat surrounding saidv passageway,

a thin resilient meta-ldiaphragm rnemberfl mounted in said seat having in its central portion a pressure reducing aperture therethrough: communicating with said` passageway, said diaphragm havingY af natural somewhat concave-l convex curvature' wherein its centrarpor-tion sur, rounding sa-id aperturev isdisplaced` to one side with respect to theigeneral planefof thezrim ofi the diaphragm andiitting within said seat when,

in` suchI natural; shape;` the; aforesaid. seat having;

an. annular face disposed' transversely@ tu` said:

7.5, passageway and: against; whichfthef` rim pori/ioni of the diaphragm rests and an annular wall en-Y closing said diaphragm, the central portion of said diaphragm being deformed from its natural shape aforesaid to the opposite side of the plane of the rim of the diaphragm to reverse its natural curvature, and the rim of said diaphragm being pressed into locking engagement with said annular wall, and means engaging a face of said diaphragm to prevent reversal from its second mentioned curvature to its first mentioned curvature.

3. In combination. a container for gas under pressure having a gas conducting passageway therein and a seat surrounding said passageway, a thin resilient metal diaphragm member mounted in said seat having in its central portion a pressure reducing aperture therethrough communicating with said passageway, said diaphragm having -a natural somewhat concavoconvex curvature wherein its central portion surrounding said aperture is displaced to one side with respect to the general plane of the rim of the diaphragm and fitting within said seat when in such natural shape, the aforesaid seat having an annular face disposed transversely to said passageway and against which the rim portion of the diaphragm rests and an annular wall enclosing said diaphragm, the central portion of said diaphragm being deformed from its natural shape aforesaid toward the plane of the rim of the diaphragm, and the rim of said diaphragm being pressed into locking engagement with said annular wall, and a removable valve structure overlying the face of said diaphragm which is remote from the aforesaid transverse wall of the seat to clamp the rim of the diaphragm against said seat and hold said diaphragm in its aforesaid deformed shape.

ALEXANDER L. FLAMM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,260,726 Spengler Mar. 26, 1918 1,641,269 Hoke Sept. 6, 1927 1,801,006 Jacoby Apr. 14, 1931 2,258,395 Tome Oct. 7, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 923,219 France Feb. 17, 1947 

